BEST Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment in Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Jeffrey D. Clark is committed to the latest in dental innovations, and this is evident in all that we do at Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence. We want to provide our patients with the best dental care possible, and that includes treating not just the smile but the person as a whole. Sleep apnea is an extremely common yet potentially dangerous condition that can, if left untreated, seriously diminish your overall health and even lead to death. Our practice is proud to be among the few dental offices in Scottsdale that utilize Galileos 3D Cone Beam technology with SICAT imaging in order to diagnose sleep apnea and treat it in a personalized way.
On This Page:
- Understanding Sleep Apnea
- How Can A Dentist Tell If You Have Sleep Apnea
- Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances vs. CPAP Machines
- Making and Fitting Your Oral Appliance
- The Benefits of an Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea
- Sleep Well for Optimal Health
Understanding Sleep Apnea near Scottsdale, Arizona
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects many people near Scottsdale and millions throughout the United States. People with sleep apnea will often stop breathing sporadically throughout the night, or they may experience shallow breathing for extended periods. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by a blockage of the airway that causes loud snoring and breathing cessation. Since people with sleep apnea only manifest symptoms while sleeping, they often go undiagnosed for a long time and only learn of the problem through a roommate or bed partner. Loud snoring should not be ignored as a potential symptom because sleep apnea can seriously affect physical and mental health.
How Can A Dentist Tell If You Have Sleep Apnea?
People who have sleep apnea often experience chronic sleep deprivation because they do not achieve a deep sleep or do not remain in a deep sleep long enough. This can result in daytime drowsiness, concentration and memory problems, slow reflexes, and so forth. You can also experience irritableness and moodiness, which can eventually develop into depression. Potential serious health problems include weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and liver dysfunction. With the appropriate strategies and treatments, you can overcome the symptoms of sleep apnea and improve your health.
Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances vs. CPAP Machines
When first diagnosed, a patient may be given options, none of which seem particularly appealing. Many patients are advised toward CPAP therapy, which involves an air generator connected to a tube that feeds into a mask that you wear at night. A CPAP machine creates a constant flow of air, which maintains the airway opening, prevents breathing interruptions, and avoids reduced oxygen intake. This is an excellent solution from a technical standpoint. From a practical standpoint, many patients are uncomfortable being attached to such a machine every night when they lie down in bed. Perhaps the biggest problem with CPAP therapy is that patients agree to it but do not adhere to the therapy when at home.
The good news is that there is an alternative to CPAP therapy that many patients prefer and is even superior in many cases: sleep apnea oral appliances. These appliances are essentially mouthguards. Each guard is customized to the individual patient, and when you wear it at night, it keeps the airway open, remodels it, and trains the tongue to remain forward in a completely nonsurgical manner.
So, how does the oral appliance remodel your airway? It stimulates bone growth within the oral cavity by widening the arch, and that therapeutically alters the shape of the cavity. As opposed to the CPAP approach, the appliance actually reconfigures your airway and makes sleeping more comfortable, restful, and, of course, healthier.
Making and Fitting Your Oral Appliance in Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Jeffrey Clark at Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence is a highly skilled and caring dentist that uses the SICAT system to assist patients dealing with sleep apnea. SICAT is the first 3D system that creates a digital replica of the upper airway, which better allows Dr. Clark to visually plan your appliance-based treatment. It takes our team just seconds to use the CEREC cone beam technology to create a three-dimensional model of your mouth, throat, upper airway, and supporting systems. Dr. Clark can then use this model to visualize obstructions and constrictions and thus diagnose the cause in a precise way.
Using this information, Dr. Clark can then create a treatment plan personalized to your unique sleep apnea condition. The 3D model will be used to create an oral appliance that not only fits your mouth perfectly but is uniquely suited to keep your airway open while you sleep. Since we create the appliance from a digital model of your unique oral structure, you can be confident that the finished product will be comfortable to wear without requiring any adjustments or other attention.
The Benefits of an Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea Include:
- Ease of use
- Reduced snoring
- Comfortable to wear
- Convenient to travel with
- Improved daytime functioning
- Better sleep for you and your partner
- Covered by most dental insurance policies
- Higher compliance rates than CPAP therapy
Sleep Well for Optimal Health
Dr. Jeffrey D. Clark has been treating patients with sleep apnea for more than a decade. Dr. Clark has extensive sleep-apnea-related education and substantial experience. As our patient at Scottsdale Cosmetic Dentistry Excellence, you’ll have access to the latest treatments and technologies. Your solution will be personalized to your unique situation and help improve your sleep quality and overall quality of life. Whether you know you have sleep apnea or fear that you may, call our office at 480 585 1853 to schedule a consultation right away.
For more information about Galileos, SICAT, and related technologies, please visit our Advanced Dental Technology page.
